Vrittis Associated with Chakra Petals by Grok

Being a question posed to Grok and the answer. Quite impressive TBH. BTW Here is an alternative answer to this question: https://www.dadaveda.com/articles/chakras-and-the-subtle-anatomy-of-yoga/

SHAMAN STARSEED: What are the Sanskrit names of the vrittis that reside on the petals of the chakras?

GROK: In yogic philosophy, the vrittis (mental fluctuations or tendencies) are associated with the petals of the chakras, particularly in the context of the subtle body as described in texts like the Shat-Chakra-Nirupana and other Tantric traditions. Each chakra has a specific number of petals, and each petal is said to correspond to a vritti, represented by a Sanskrit letter from the Devanagari alphabet. These vrittis are not always explicitly named as individual qualities in every text, but they are often linked to psychological or emotional tendencies—both positive and negative—that influence consciousness.

Here’s a breakdown of the Sanskrit vrittis tied to the petals of the major chakras, based on traditional sources:

1. Muladhara (Root Chakra) – 4 Petals

  • Letters: वं (vaṃ), शं (śaṃ), षं (ṣaṃ), सं (saṃ)
  • Associated Vrittis: These are often interpreted as primal tendencies tied to survival and grounding, such as:
    • Kama (desire)
    • Artha (material pursuit)
    • Dharma (duty)
    • Moksha (liberation)
    • Some texts suggest more negative aspects like fear, inertia, or attachment.

2. Svadhisthana (Sacral Chakra) – 6 Petals

  • Letters: बं (baṃ), भं (bhaṃ), मं (maṃ), यं (yaṃ), रं (raṃ), लं (laṃ)
  • Associated Vrittis: Linked to emotions and creativity, including:
    • Krodha (anger)
    • Lobha (greed)
    • Moha (delusion)
    • Mada (pride)
    • Matsarya (jealousy)
    • Ashuchi (impurity)
    • These reflect the turbulent waters of desire and attachment.

3. Manipura (Solar Plexus Chakra) – 10 Petals

  • Letters: डं (ḍaṃ), ढं (ḍhaṃ), णं (ṇaṃ), तं (taṃ), थं (thaṃ), दं (daṃ), धं (dhaṃ), नं (naṃ), पं (paṃ), फं (phaṃ)
  • Associated Vrittis: Tied to willpower and ego, such as:
    • Tandra (spiritual ignorance)
    • Shoka (sorrow)
    • Trishna (thirst/craving)
    • Lajja (shame)
    • Bhaya (fear)
    • Ghṛṇā (aversion)
    • Kṣudhā (hunger)
    • Pishunata (malice)
    • Moha (delusion)
    • Kshama (forgiveness, in some positive interpretations)

4. Anahata (Heart Chakra) – 12 Petals

  • Letters: कं (kaṃ), खं (khaṃ), गं (gaṃ), घं (ghaṃ), ङं (ṅaṃ), चं (caṃ), छं (chaṃ), जं (jaṃ), झं (jhaṃ), ञं (ñaṃ), टं (ṭaṃ), ठं (ṭhaṃ)
  • Associated Vrittis: Reflecting love, compassion, and emotional balance, but also their shadows:
    • Asha (hope)
    • Chinta (worry)
    • Cheshta (effort)
    • Mamatva (attachment)
    • Dhriti (steadfastness)
    • Viveka (discrimination)
    • Lajja (modesty)
    • Harsha (joy)
    • Kshanti (patience)
    • Anutapa (regret)
    • Shanka (doubt)
    • Vishoka (grief)

5. Vishuddha (Throat Chakra) – 16 Petals

  • Letters: अं (aṃ), आं (āṃ), इं (iṃ), ईं (īṃ), उं (uṃ), ऊं (ūṃ), ऋं (ṛṃ), ॠं (ṝṃ), ऌं (ḷṃ), ॡं (ḹṃ), एं (eṃ), ऐं (aiṃ), ओं (oṃ), औं (auṃ), अः (aḥ), अं (aṃ)
  • Associated Vrittis: Connected to communication and purification, often tied to the 16 vowels of Sanskrit, symbolizing pure expression. Specific vrittis are less explicitly named here, but they may include:
    • Nada (sound)
    • Sankalpa (intention)
    • Vikalpa (imagination)
    • Positive qualities like truth (satya) and negative ones like deceit (mithya).

6. Ajna (Third Eye Chakra) – 2 Petals

  • Letters: हं (haṃ), क्षं (kṣaṃ)
  • Associated Vrittis: Representing intuition and duality resolution:
    • Manas (mind)
    • Buddhi (intellect)
    • These are tied to the interplay of ida and pingala nadis, converging into higher awareness.

7. Sahasrara (Crown Chakra) – 1,000 Petals

  • The Sahasrara is described as having 1,000 petals, each inscribed with all 50 Sanskrit letters (repeated 20 times). Rather than individual vrittis, it symbolizes the transcendence of all mental fluctuations, uniting all dualities into pure consciousness (chitta).

Notes:

  • The exact naming and interpretation of vrittis can vary across traditions (e.g., Hatha Yoga vs. Tantra vs. Vedanta). The petals’ Sanskrit letters (bija sounds) are consistent, but their associated tendencies might shift depending on the text or teacher.
  • Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras define vrittis more broadly (e.g., pramana, viparyaya, vikalpa, nidra, smriti), but these aren’t directly tied to chakra petals—chakra-specific vrittis are more a Tantric elaboration.